Elephant Bottoms.....

What do you do when your kids pants get dirty knees and holes in them?
I decided since freckles, favorite jeans got a hole in the knee + stains I couldn't get out, that I would save them & turn them into a whole new fun pair of pants.

I cut off the lags from the knee down and added a floral print fabric ruffle to that.
We affectionately call them Elephant Bottoms.

Hence, this is a frugal time in our life. So, I decided to save the pants !! And,
Freckles still gets to keep her favorite jeans...
must I add, they are stinkin' cute on her.

I think they are even cuter than before. Freckles, is definitely stylin'.

Our Own Paper Dolls......

In many of my past dolls I have depicted chubby faced children... Sweet rosy cheeks, dressed in frocks or costumes. Many of my dolls have been truly inspired by my children, especially my little chubby face, freckled little girl.
Lately, she has been digging through her box of paper dolls, which inspired me once again to create some lil paper dolly's of my own.

I worked on the first one last night. Once I started work on the second dolly, my daughter wanted to join in the fun.
So right along side me, I drew her up a dolly to paint& decorate herself.

Her face lit up with delight!!!
I must say, she did a wonderful job on her dolly
( pictured below)
which, she named Abbie.
She even made her dolly a book and an extra outfit.
We played with the three sisters for some time...they had a delectable tea party.

I'd like to encourage you to create your very own paper dolly's too....
Girl's get a kick out of it !!

If you decide that is not for you...there are many paper doll kits available, even vintage or antique reproductions have been made.
My daughter will play with them for hours, cutting out all the accessories and outfits.

Paper dolls first appeared in Paris in the 18th Century later,
appearing in the Western society in the late 18th Century.
A pastime in which many girls still enjoy.
My little girl being one of them.

Enjoy !!!

A Very PINK Room.....

This is my daughters VERY PINK bedroom.
She has a love for pink and a fondness in her heart for elephants.
A very old quilt hangs on her wall as a piece of art work.

This is her antique bed... it's a full size iron bed over 100 years old.
Over her bed is Big Shabby Chic Letters which spell out DREAM.
Below the DREAM letters we have collected a few darling prints from
my friend Jenny at
Every Day Is A Holiday

She also collects elephants...

All kinds from stuffed to vintage and figures.

She has hundreds of elephants.

You will find her collection of antique and vintage dolls as well.

We also collect old baby dresses, old children books and miscellaneous vintage items.

I think she is just like me.

We both have a love for old things.

A Pocket Full Of Thimbles...

A collection of thimbles will soon serve a new purpose in my art.

They are all so charming.
Don't you think?

First Spring Fling Dance.....

This weekend our son went to his first Spring Fling Dance. He looked dashing all the way down to his Converse sneakers.

So, he has never been dancing before. I must say he did a great job.

They started off the evening with The Virginia Reel. I took like over 80 pictures. Yeah , I am a proud Mama who had to capture all those moments.

I am so not posting all the pictures.... but thought to share a few of my faves. I just loved watching my young man have such a great time with his friends.

Here is my boy with his first dance partner.
They are so cutting the concrete !!!

They did so many other dances, the waltz
and the Spanish waltz, just to name a few.

Here he is with another sweet gal,
getting ready to dance the waltz.

So, debonair and smooth, as if he's done this before.

Being careful as to not step on her bare toes.

What a night. He had a ball with his friends, dancing the night away. Learned some pretty cool dance steps and possibly needing new shoes.

You're Funny !!!

This is just one of those regular day's in our home.
They alway's keep me smiling !

Peanut Butter Banana Bread...

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter softened
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 bananas mashed
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 0z. chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
Lightly grease a 5x9 inch loaf pan
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
Add eggs; beat well.
Stir in peanut butter, bananas, flour and baking soda until blended.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Pour into prepared pan.
Bake at 325 degrees
for 70 minutes
or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.
Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Peanut Butter Frosting

In a small saucepan melt 3 Tbls. peanut butter, 2 Tbls. butter.
Remove from heat;
stir in 1 C. sifted powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla.
Stir in 1 Tbls.milk, till of spreading consistency.
Spread on top of cooled bread,
add a few chocolate chips on top of that.
Enjoy !!

Teaching Our Young Children How To Pray....

Here is a great way to help teach your young child how to pray.
A prayer glove.
Each colored finger represents something meaningful and beneficial for a healthy prayer life and will surely provide a wonderful foundation for their personal prayer life in later years.

A. The thumb represents ( red ) "Praise" because the thumb is the part of the hand that is closest to your heart. The thumb is the most important and strongest finger on your hand.
What do you pray for?
Praise is how we tell God how awesome, mighty & wonderful He is. Praise should be the strongest and most important part of your prayers.

B. The index finger represents ( orange ) "Thankfulness to God" because that is the finger you point with.
What do you pray for?
We should thank God for all that He provides.

C. The middle finger represents ( yellow ) " Forgiveness" because the middle finger is the most prominent.
What do you pray for?
Forgiveness is needed everyday. Even as Christians we commit sin. We should ask God for forgiveness and tell Him we are sorry for disobeying Him.

D. The ring finger represents ( green ) "Others" because this finger is generally considered to be the weakest finger.
Who do you pray for?
Praying for others and bringing their needs before God is a very important part of prayer. The ring finger can usually do nothing alone. It needs help from all other parts of the hand in order to work. we know people who need help , one way is to pray for them.

E. The pinkie finger represents ( Blue) " ME " or "Self ", because it is the last and smallest finger.
We should put others before ourselves and humble ourselves before God.
Pray for yourself last.
Our prayer life is weak when we focus on ourselves.
Hold your Bible with just your pinkie finger & palm and you will see how weak it is.
Add one finger at a time starting with the ring finger all the way up to the thumb.
Our prayer life is strong when we include all of them.

F. Your Fist represents protection from the evil one and power to advance against him.
" Because God holds us tightly in His hands".
With His protection & His strength we can successfully "fight" back and advance against the evil one.
Remember to close your fist...
Always close in prayer in the name of Jesus.

Memorize :

Philippians 4:6

Don't worry about anything.
Instead tell God about everything.
Ask and pray.
Give thanks to Him.

Love Is A Mother's Gift......

Love Is A Mother’s Gift

When God made mothers,
He took great care
To fill their hearts with love so rare.
Their children are their greatest prize;
You can see the great love in your mother’s eyes.

Love, love is a mother’s gift
To their precious children, their hearts to lift.
Warm, tender and giving love
That grows them up healthy and happy.Thank you, mother for all you give
To help me grow and to help me live.

I will love you forevermore,
My mother, my mom, whom I adore.Love, love is a mother’s gift
To their precious children, their hearts to lift.
Warm, tender and giving love
That grows us up healthy and happy.

By Joanna Fuchs

A Murder Mystery Dinner....

A night of mystery and intrigue in
the wild and romantic era of the roaring 20's!

Maestro went to a Murder Mystery dinner over the weekend with a bunch of friends.
He dressed up in his Italian Mob attire
( He is the one wearing all black in the photos)
A.K.A. Guido.
which he usually wears anyway.
They played poker?
and smoked cigarettes???
Hmmmm....

I was told later that those were candy cigarettes.
Whew !!! Worried Mama !

I don't think they are nabbing the right guy here.

Oh well, looks fun anyway. The poor guy had a broken arm.

The murder mystery was solved... It turns out it was the Chief of Police who did it.

If you go back to the first picture, Maestro is playing poker with the Chief Of Police
( guy with no hat on) and didn't even realize he was the one, the whole time. What fun. The kids all had a blast.

If you are interested in hosting a Murder Mystery dinner yourself visit
www.nightofmystery.com

The 2009 ZNE ConvenZioNE

I had the best time at the ZNE ConvenZioNE for 5 days with my dearest artsy friends....
I met them all for the first time since blogging with many of them
for the last three years and being on the internet the last 6 years.
It was like a dream being with all of them in one place.
We had so much fun hanging out. Even made new friends along the way.
Please stop by my Art blog
www.garboodles.blogspot.com
to view all the pics and read the stories
& see the class I taught as well as the classes I had the opportunity to take !

This year's instructors. From left to right, top row:

Ulla Milbrath, Ruth Rae, Ann Denise Anderson, Mica Garbarino ( Me) , Brandie Butcher Isley, Iva Wilcox.

Bottom row: Chel, Lisa Kettell and Gina Gabriell. (Missing, Anna Corba - who was off meeting our attendees and guests.) Photo credit - Deborah Wandro.